Shadows in the Night

Roman POV

Glass crunches under my boots as I lunge toward Leera, my wolf snarling, senses razor-sharp. The dorm room is a mess of moonlight and shadows, the shattered window letting in a cold gust. Leera’s scream echoes in my ears, her icy eyes wide with panic. Zoey’s frozen by the door, her mouth open. The figure outside moves fast too fast for humans darting into the darkness before I can get a clear look. My wolf howls, demanding blood, but I force it down. Leera’s safety comes first.

“Get behind me,” I growl, pulling Lira to her feet. Her small frame trembles, but she grips my arm, her moonstone ring glinting.

“What the hell was that?” Zoey snaps, her voice shaking as she edges toward us. “Roman, what’s going on?”

“No time,” I say, scanning the window. The scent of pine and something sharp wolfsbane lingers. My stomach twists. Only a wolf would use that, and only one with a grudge. India. “Leera, grab your jacket. We’re leaving.”

“Leaving?” Leera’s voice is sharp, defiant despite her fear. “I don’t even know you!”

“You know enough,” I say, meeting her gaze. Her eyes spark, and that pull the mate bond hums between us, undeniable. “You felt it. The growl. You’re not safe here.”

She hesitates, then yanks her jacket from a chair. “Fine. But you’re explaining everything.”

“Deal,” I say, already moving toward the door. “Zoey, are you coming or staying?”

Zoey grabs her phone, her curls bouncing. “I’m not leaving her with you alone, hockey boy. Let’s go.”

I don’t argue. The hallway quiet, the fluorescent lights flickering. My phone buzzes Benny again: *Found India at the rink. She’s pissed. Something’s up.* I curse under my breath, leading Leera and Zoey down the stairs. The lobby’s empty, the security guard gone. Bad sign. My wolf’s on edge, every shadow a threat.

Outside, the campus is dark, the moon casting long shadows across the quad. My truck’s parked nearby, and I hustle them toward it, my senses straining for any sign of the intruder. Leera’s scent sugar and honeysuckles grounds me, but the wolfsbane stink lingers, faint but close.

“Roman, talk,” Leera demands as we reach the truck. She climbs into the passenger seat, Zoey sliding in the back. “What was that thing? And why do you keep saying I’m a wolf?”

I start the engine, the roar cutting through the night. “You’re a werewolf, Leera. Like me. That growl? It’s your wolf waking up.”

She laughs, sharp and nervous. “Werewolf? You’re insane. I’m just… me.”

“You’re not,” I say, pulling onto the road. The forest looms ahead, Shawnee State’s trees swallowing the moonlight. “Your scent, your growl it’s not human. Someone suppressed it. Maybe your parents.”

Her face pales, her fingers twisting her necklace. “My parents? They were photographers, not… monsters.”

“Not monsters,” I say softly, glancing at her. “Wolves. Like us. They might’ve hidden it to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?” she snaps, her voice breaking. “From people throwing bricks through my window?”

“From worse,” I say, my grip tightening on the wheel. “Someone wants you gone, Leera. I think it’s India.”

“India?” Zoey leans forward, her voice skeptical. “Your fiancée? She’s a bitch, sure, but breaking windows?”

“She’s more than that,” I mutter, my jaw tight. “She’s a wolf, too. And she wants something I can’t give her.”

Leera’s eyes narrow. “What’s that?”

I hesitate, the weight of the truth heavy. “The throne. Our pack’s tied to the werewolf king. India’s father arranged our engagement to secure it. But you—you’re my mate. My true mate.”

Her breath catches, and Zoey whistles low. “Mate? Like, soulmate? This is some Twilight-level crap.”

“It’s real,” I say, my voice firm. “Leera, you felt it at the arena. The pull. It’s the Moon Goddess’s bond.”

Leera shakes her head, her silver hair catching the moonlight. “This is too much. I just wanted to pass my class.”

I want to reach for her, to ease the fear in her eyes, but a shadow moves in the rearview mirror. A vehicle black, sleek tails us, too close for coincidence. My wolf growls, claws itching. “Hold on,” I say, flooring the gas.

The truck lurches, tires squealing as I take a sharp turn onto a forest road. Leera grips the dashboard, her eyes wide. “Roman, what”

“We’re being followed,” I say, glancing back. The black car keeps pace, its headlights glaring. “Zoey, call Benny. Tell him we’re heading to the pack house. Now.”

Zoey fumbles her phone, dialing. “Benny? It’s Zoey. Roman’s with us, and some creep’s tailing us. Yeah, the pack house. Hurry.”

Leera’s staring at me, her voice low. “Pack house? Roman, where are you taking us?”

“Somewhere safe,” I say, weaving through the trees. The pack house is deep in Shawnee State Forest, hidden from human eyes. “My pack will protect you.”

“Your pack?” Her tone’s sharp, but there’s a tremor in it. “I don’t even know what I am!”

“You’re one of us,” I say, my wolf’s certainty bleeding through. “I’ll prove it.”

The car behind us speeds up, its engine roaring. I curse, pushing the truck harder. The road narrows, branches scraping the sides. Leera’s breathing fast, her hand brushing mine on the gearshift. The mate bond flares, warm and electric, and my wolf steadies. I’ll die before I let them touch her.

“Roman, they’re gaining!” Zoey yells, twisting to look back.

I glance at the side mirror two figures in the car, their faces shadowed. The scent of wolfsbane grows stronger, stinging my nose. “Leera, when we stop, run for the house. Don’t look back.”

“I’m not leaving Zoey,” she says, her voice fierce.

“I’ll handle Zoey,” I say, meeting Zoey’s eyes in the mirror. She nods, pale but determined.

The pack house comes into view, a sprawling log cabin lit by lanterns. Benny’s waiting outside, his athletic frame tense, Andrei and Slate at his side. I slam on the brakes, the truck skidding to a stop. “Go!” I shout, shoving the door open.

Leera and Zoey scramble out, sprinting for the house. The black car screeches to a halt behind us, and two figures leap out wolves, their eyes glowing in the dark. One’s tall, lean, with green eyes I know too well. India.

“Roman!” she calls, her voice dripping venom. “You can’t run from this!”

I step forward, my wolf snarling, ready to shift. “Stay away from her, India.”

She laughs, her boots crunching on the gravel. “She’s nothing. A mistake. You’re mine.”

“She’s my mate,” I growl, my voice shaking with rage. Leera’s scent is behind me, safe with Benny. I can feel her through the bond, her fear sharp but her strength growing.

India’s eyes flash, and the second figure Khas, the Vultures’ captain steps forward, his slicked-back hair gleaming. “You sure about that, Roman?” he says, his grey eyes cold. “Because she smells like family to me.”

My blood runs cold. Family? Lee's connection to Khas Imogen’s brother hits like a punch. Before I can respond, India lunges, a blade glinting in her hand. I dodge, my wolf taking over, but a sharp pain sears my side. Wolfsbane. My vision blurs, and Leera’s scream cuts through the night as I stumble, the world tilting. India’s laughter echoes, and Khan's voice is a low murmur, too faint to catch. The last thing I see is Leera running toward me, her silver hair glowing under the moon, before darkness swallows me whole.